Weekly Terrorism Spotlight

Volume 1, Issue 1 (March 17)

INSIDE THIS ISSUE:

CAIR embroiled in Hamas controversy

After controversial remarks, CAIR leader rejects pro-Hamas label while CAIR critic stands by report of earlier remarks

Counsel on American-Islamic Relations, Florida chapter, Executive Director Altaf Ali in comments to PRB News rejected a controversial report indicating CAIR supports Hamas in the Middle East.

Americans Against Hate Executive Director Joe Kauffman said he stands by his report, and a videotaping of the comments proves his stand beyond doubt.

Following reports of statements made by CAIR supporter Jawhar “Joe” Badran received attention in the Florida area; Ali said Badran is not a representative of CAIR.

Ali added Badran’s comments do not reflect CAIR’s position on Hamas.

“Hamas is not a terrorist organization,” Badran stated on video supplied by Kauffman from an Americans Against Hate March 1 anti-CAIR rally.

A counter-demonstration by CAIR ensued, and Badran, holding a CAIR-logo microphone, made statements with Ali standing by, the incident being recorded by CAIR videographers as well.

“Hamas is a defender of the Palestinian people. That’s what Hamas is,” Badran said, at points apparently in an interview stance toward a man Kaufman identified as Ali.

Ali, when asked if CAIR stands by Badran’s comments, told PRB News, “Of course not,” and added Hamas is a recognized terrorist organization whose activities CAIR cannot endorse.

Kauffman said that Ali’s backpedaling is not convincing, but only “stating a fact.” Kauffman added: “Will Altaf Ali condemns Hamas as a terrorist organization: That’s the real question.”

“Joe Badran is not a representative of CAIR,” Ali said, adding Kauffman’s characterizations cannot be trusted because Kauffman himself supports pro-Jewish terrorism.

CAIR is a nationally organized pro-Islamic advocacy group started in 1994 calling itself a support for Muslim interests and civil rights while condemning all forms of terrorism.

Americans Against Hate is a national organization started in 1998 calling itself a civil rights and terrorism watch group focused as an active voice against bigotry and violence.

A long-standing rivalry

Ali said Kauffman is an American for hate when it comes to Islamic people, adding Kauffman supports Jewish terrorism. “He is a supporter of the Kahane Chai organization,” he said.

“Kahane is noted as a terrorist organization by the U.S. State Department. You have to know the messenger in order to properly assess the message.”

Kauffman responded with unequivocal denunciation of all forms of terrorism. “Never have I or my organization ever stated support for Kahane Chai. Repeat, never,” he said.

“CAIR has falsely accused me of this for many years now,” he added. “This false accusation only gives CAIR cover…Why do they make such claims? That’s simple. Because I’m trying to get their organization shut down. I’m sure they don’t appreciate that.”

Ali countered proof of Kaufman’s sentiments are found in a January 2001 commentary in which “Kaufman clearly supports what Kahane stands for.”

Kauffman in his commentary said as a college student years before, he was moved by Meir Kahane’s passion for Israel, and he noted grief for Kahane’s murder 17 days before a Jewish Student Union event he and fellow JSU members helped organize late in 1990.

“The controversy surrounding Kahane – at least when it came to his Israel policy – revolved around his strong advocacy for removing (forcibly if necessary) all Arabs from the Jewish state,” Kaufman said in his commentary.

Kaufman asked the question, was Kahane right? And he noted Kahane’s followers continued to advocate the controversial former Knesset member and his agenda.

“Can you ever truly make peace with a people whose holy book states that you can never befriend a Jew…and worse? Can the answer(s) be more obvious?” Kaufman said in 2001.

Kaufman said to PRB News CAIR favors Hamas and endorses terrorism, and Badran spoke days before a Hamas attack at a Jewish seminary in Jerusalem that killed eight students.

“Jawhar Badran is indeed a representative of CAIR,” Kaufman said. “The video does not lie. Ali was right next to him when he made the statement for the CAIR video. In fact, witnesses claim that Ali stated the same.

“It is unconscionable for CAIR to state its support for a group that targets youth with terrorist attacks,” Kauffman added. “Given CAIR’s ties to Hamas, we call on our government to, once and for all, shut the organization down.”

Ali accused Kauffman of hypocrisy negating the accusations made against CAIR.

“It is beyond hypocritical for a person who uses defamatory smears against CAIR, a mainstream civil rights group that has been consistent in its repeated condemnation of terrorism in all its forms, to promote the views of actual terrorists,” Ali said.

Ali added Kaufman follows a typical pattern of publishing anti-CAIR accusations “all over the web” on the Internet, “in townhall.com, WorlNetDaily, NewsMax, all of his websites and blogs.”

Kaufman is undaunted, and said he will continue to expose CAIR and call for its closure. “In truth, CAIR not only supports Hamas, but according to the FBI, CAIR was a part of Hamas since CAIR began in June of 1994,” he said.

Published reports support narratives of Kahane Chai as stemming from conservative Israeli leader, the late Meir Kahane, assassinated in Manhattan in November 1990.

Kahane founded Kach, an Israeli political party, gaining a seat in 1984 – Kahane winning a seat himself in 1986. Kach was outlawed, declared racist, in 1994, four years after Kahane’s death.

Kahane Chai, literally “Kahane lives,” broke off from Kach shortly after his death, and was barred from Knesset elections in 1992.

Both Kach and Kahane Chai were declared foreign terrorist organizations by Israel, Canada and the U.S., years after Kaufman’s involvement with the Jewish Student Union scheduled event.